Board of Selectmen Special Meeting - Senior Center 06/10/2013
DRAFT
BOARD OF SELECTMEN SPECIAL MEETING
SIMSBURY SENIOR CENTER - JUNE 10, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
The Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were: First Selectman Mary Glassman; board members Nancy Haase, Moira Wertheimer, Lisa Heavner, Shannon Knall and Sean Askham. Others in attendance included Tom Cooke, Richard Sawitzke, Ed Lamontagne and other interested parties.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE - With Regard to the Senior Center Survey Proposal
Ms. Glassman welcomed everyone and said it was the fifth public forum on the proposed Senior Center. She asked Mr. Sawitzke to explain what was before the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Sawitzke thanked everyone for coming out for the meeting. He thanked the Public Building Committee and all the volunteers who have been working on this project. He handed out a very brief summary of the findings. The important part of this meeting is to hear what the residents have to say about this issue.
Mr. Sawitzke said there have been many studies on senior community centers with the first one beginning in 1988. There was a questionnaire done in 2009 with a very good response.
Mr. Sawitzke said there are 2,000 members in the Senior Center right now. There are over 1,400 people who use the health screening services along with 11,000 people who use the fitness programs throughout the year. He feels there is potential for more use as well. There was a very in-depth projection and the peak future years for the potential members is 2025 - 2030.
Mr. Sawitzke said after all of the detailed studies there are three potential sites to discuss. One site is to add on to Eno Memorial Hall, a new site on the corner of Bushy Hill and Stratton Brook Road, and the Performing Arts Center property.
Mr. Lamontagne, 4 George Street, Chairman of the Aging and Disability Commission, said he has been approached for the past seven years by residents and business owners who find it necessary for a Senior Center.
He said there are three questions to be addressed: 1) Do we need a new Senior Center; 2) where should it be located and; 3) can we afford it. He said in 2010 29.6% of Simsbury’s population was 55 and older. It then increases to 37% by 2025. That is less than twelve years from now.
Mr. Lamontagne conducted a survey in 2009 with 225 seniors and over 50% felt the current center was insufficient. The current Senior Center does not have a convenient drop-off location close to an entrance, does not have sufficient or accessible parking, and is not totally accessible. He said 60% of the respondents thought it could be a Senior Center/Community Center which could incorporate other Town functions.
Mr. Lamontagne said according to the survey responses, the Senior Center should be located in the center of Town. Only two of the proposals qualify.
Mr. Lamontagne said there are grants available through the Federal and State Governments. He noted that a Hartford Magazine article stated that Simsbury is ranked 6th best for Seniors.
Dave Galt, 41 Madison Lane, feels the open space on the corner of Stratton Brook and Bushy Hill should NOT be built on. He is worried about the Stratton Brook Aquifer. He feels this pristine site is inappropriate for development. His comments are attached.
Michael Jennings, 12 E. Wiggins Farm Drive, said he is in a unique position as he is in a wheelchair. He doesn’t feel that Eno Hall is a good site because it cannot meet the proper needs of the disabled while maintaining its historic look. Everyone needs to be aware of ADA requirements. A Senior Center also needs to be accessible for the handicapped. There is also a big parking issue at Eno Hall as there won’t be enough big parking spaces for the handicapped vehicles. He doesn’t feel a parking garage is a good idea either as people are scared to use them.
Helen Peterson, 20 Longview Drive, is an advocate for the value of a Senior Center in the center of Town. She said you can see the advocacy on page 5 of the first Charrette in the 1990's. Seniors are very important to the community and shouldn’t be pushed off to a corner of Town. She advocates for adding on to Eno which will enhance multi-use and shared parking within Town center.
Ms. Peterson said economically an enhanced Eno Hall supports small businesses in the center. There would be a whole new burden to the tax payers if a new center is built on new land. This would create long term maintenance, etc.
Mark Orenstein, 82 Old Meadow Plain Road, congratulated the architects and Public Building Committee for a job well done. He read a letter from the Aging & Disability Commission dated February 25, 2013.
Mr. Orenstein said the Commission feels a one level building with one level parking is needed. Therefore, Stratton Brook / Bushy Hill site of Performing Arts Center site should be used.
Mr. Orenstein said there would be a traffic issue if the Eno site is used. There would be a lot of issues for senior citizens who are trying to park their cars in the parking garage. He would like more details and operating procedures for the parking structure.
Don Zayler addressed the package of information that was given to the Board of Selectmen. He said there was a sub-committee formed about 2 years ago to discuss this very issue. He was one of the seniors who used Eno. They visited four sites, out of Town, to see what they do. Agawam, MA was the top - it was incredible.
Mr. Zayler gave out value/point system information on Bushy, Performing Arts Center and Eno. He went through this system.
Mr. Zayler said the biggest issue at Eno is the parking issue. Even with the parking deck, there wouldn’t be enough spots including handicapped parking. He feels people will drive no matter where the site is. He feels Bushy/Stratton Brook is the best place for this project.
David Bare, 82 Great Pine Road, said everyone appreciates Eno Memorial Hall and no one wants to leave this historic building. He feels that people can’t afford another study on this issue.
Mr. Bare asked what kind of tax rate would be given for this building. This is a lot of money to spend. He doesn’t want to leave the younger people of Town with this kind of debt. He feels that people have a right to vote on this project. He feels we do not need a fancy place like they have in Agawam.
Anita Mielert, 57 E. Weatogue Street, gave the Board a hand-out for their review. She doesn’t feel that the assessments were not done in a fair and consistent manner. She feels a clear bias toward the Bushy Hill site emerged when spreadsheets were taken together.
Ms. Mielert feels many of the soft costs listed on the spreadsheets have already been done during the recently completed renovations at Eno. She also believes there are significant parallels to the renovation/new scenarios we went through on the High School 12 years ago.
Ms. Mielert said the residents have been told that the cost of the Senior Center “fits” into the capital improvement program guidelines given by the Board of Finance. She asked who believes that this major expenditure will not affect the mil rate, driving out more seniors.
John Schaefer, 16 Lostbrook Road, feels the study did not take into consideration very important issues when evaluating the pros and cons of the various site characteristics.
Ms. Schaefer feels it does not seem appropriate to build a new building on a flood-plain. The Performing Arts Center site is within a flood-plain zone. Mr. Schaefer is also concerned about the Bushy Hill/Stratton Brook site is located in an Aquifer Protection Zone.
Mr. Schaefer said the Town’s voters have already made it clear that the open space east of Iron Horse Blvd. and the Ethel Walker Wood property should remain open space and not be developed. He feels the Senior Center building footprint and site improvements would remove a significant amount of that open space at both the PAC and Bushy Hill sites.
Mr. Schaefer also spoke about the parking issues. He feels if the Town Center builds out per the Charrette, many of the Senior Center issues will be living in the Town Center and will walk to the Senior Center. He feels the Eno Hall site becomes a clear winner after all issues are taken into consideration.
Nona S , 10 Sagamore Drive, said she questions the need, during these uncertain economic times, for a new Senior Center. She said the Eno Memorial Hall has a wonderful Senior Center now. It has three floors with an elevator, an entry ramp for handicapped, and lots of space for all different needs. She asked if there was a study done regarding the usage of the present Senior Center? She also wants to know if the present usage has outgrown the facility space or is there unused space that can be changed to meet other needs. She also asked if younger seniors had an opportunity to express their thoughts and needs for their future? She feels Eno Memorial Hall is the best site.
Ferg Jansen, 3 Fox Den, feels if a new Senior Center is built he would favor a downtown site. Mr. Jansen said he is on the Performing Arts Board and did urge the Board of Selectmen to look into combining the Senior Center with the Performing Arts Center. A recent study showed that the Performing Arts Center should be an economic driver for the Town. A rendering needs to be made for that site.
Edna Westwood Drive, said she and her friend have been trying to get a new Senior Center for years. The Senior Center at Eno is from 1987 and it was never meant to be a Senior Center. There is not enough room for all programs, not enough room for storage, not enough parking. Eno is just not a safe place for seniors. She said she goes to the Senior Center every day and feels a new Senior Center is needed.
Diane Nash, 5 Merrywood, said everyone has studied the package. Everyone spent countless hours at the Charrettes. Everyone agreed with having the Senior Center downtown. She is all for preserving the environment. She feels Simsbury stands for preserving and protecting a special place and feels Eno Hall can be made to work for everyone.
Emil Dahlquist, 54 Hillcrest Drive, said the Design Review Board did review the proposals, but didn’t take any action. He feels that Eno is the best site as it fits all policies, planning, and principals along with smart growth. Any construction of this building should benefit the entire community.
Mr. Dahlquist said the proposed parking deck hasn’t been designed yet. It needs to be engineered. They have applied for a grant for a new parking deck and he feels it will probably be approved. He feels the clear choice is the Eno Memorial Hall site.
Joanne Pomerance, 65 Blue Ridge Drive, said Eno Hall is a lovely historic building. If the Senior Center is moved elsewhere, what will Eno’s function be? The residents will still have to pay for maintenance and utilities on this property too.
Lonnie Schultz, 23 Woodhaven Drive, said Eno Hall is a wonderful facility and great location for everyone. The other sites have environmental issues. She asked about a busing system to alleviate parking issues. Ms. Glassman said there is a dial-a-ride program in Town now and maybe they can address that issue.
Ms. Glassman thanked everyone for attending and speaking. A lot of good questions were raised about this issue. She said the Board will have a chance to discuss this issue further, but not decision will be made tonight as questions do need to be answered first.
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathi Radocchio
Clerk